Driver's strike lifts Houston past L.A.

Carson, CA (Sports Network) - Andrew Driver produced the lone goal at The Home
Depot Center on Sunday as his 56th-minute strike earned the Houston Dynamo a
1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The result sees Houston (5-2-2) go level with Red Bull New York, Sporting Kansas City and the Montreal Impact for top spot in the Eastern Conference on 17 points apiece.

Los Angeles (4-2-2) remains in second place in the West with 14 points,
sitting level with Real Salt Lake and the Portland Timbers.

The best chance of the opening period in Sunday's affair fell to the Galaxy
after Tally Hall's sliding challenge on Jose Villarreal in the 24th minute
yielded a penalty for the home side, but the Dynamo 'keeper made amends for
his foul by stopping Landon Donovan's ensuing attempt from the spot.

It proved to be a costly miss for Donovan as the Dynamo grabbed the lead on
the other side of halftime.

Giles Barnes latched on to a through ball on the right side of the penalty
area and pulled it back to the opposite corner of the box where Driver was
arriving to hammer a first-time shot past Carlo Cudicini at his near post.